Rein-holder.



No. 857,873. v PATENTED JUNE 25, 1907.

c. s. GHAPPEB. Rm HOLDER.

APPLIOATlORPII-ED SEPT. 28, 1906.

WITNESSES: V INVENTOR rirnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REIN-HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 25, 1907.

Application filed September 28, 1906. Serial No. 336,546.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHAnLEs S. CHAFFEE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Derby, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Rein-Holders, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to rein holders and more particularly to that classof the same which are attached to the dash board or some other part ofthe vehicle within easy reach of the driver.

The object of my invention is to provide a device within which the reinsmay be removably fastened when not in use by the driver, the arrangementof the parts being such that the entire device may be in one rigid piecewhich may be permanently or detachably secured to the desired part ofthe vehicle, and with this object in view my invention consists in thefeatures and construction and the manner of operation, the details ofwhich are set forth in the following specification and accompanyingdrawing, in which like reference characters refer to correspondingparts.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a erspective View of a fragmentary portionof the dashboard of a vehicle showing my device attached thereto. Fig. 2is also a perspective view of a fragmentary portion of a'dashboardshowing my device attached thereto by a peculiar clamping means and in aposition at right angles to that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan Viewof Fig. 1 showing a ortion of the top bead of the dashboard bro en away,and Fig. 4 is a rear perspective view of the device shown in Fig. 2, butdetached from the dashboard and showing a different arrangement of theclamps.

Referring to Figs. 1-2 and 3 A indicates the ordinary dashboard having abead. b, the floor or footboard of the vehicle being indicated at B asshown in Fig. 3, and the whip socket at a as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3 the body portion of my device is indicated atC which body portion terminates at its ends in the lugs c 0respectively, to permit the passage there through of the screws g gwhich pass through the dashboard, and are secured on the opposite sidethereof by nuts, the upper one of which is shown at h in Fig. 3. Themiddle of this body portion 1s rectangular in transverse-section, andpresents a flat engaging surface on its rear side,

each of the latter beingpierced and also has its front face recessed toform a relatively thin longitudinally extending surface (1 on each sidethereof which surfaces are flat, and are bounded by substantially sharpedges. The outer end of the body portion adjacent to the lug c is kerfedoff to cause the narrow surfaces d, d to slope upwardly and rearwardlyopposite the free extremity of the prong f, the surfaces (1, (1 beingwidened as they approach their outer extremity due to the inwardconvergence of the opposite walls of the recess. From the inner end ofthe recess projects the shelf 0 which latter extends a considerabledistance beyond the front surfaces d, d and upon the shelf e is rigidlymounted the rigid prong f in front of and between the surfaces d, d.

In Figs. 2 and 4 the outer extremity of the body portion or thatadjacent to the free end of the prong f is turned over the bead I) ofthe dashboard forming a clamp 'L, and another clamp 76 extends from theupper side of the base and is turned over the bead of the top of thedashboard in a like manner. The reins are indicated at m, n theextremities of which form a loop Z. I have shown the reins terminatingin a loop as above described merely for the purpose of illustration, itbeing obvious that both reins may be continued downwardly to the extentof their entire length and buckled together at their extremities. InFig. 4 I have shown the clamp t and 7c so arranged that the device maybe secured to the opposite side of the dashboard from that shown in Fig.2, that is on the lefthand side of the vehicle, otherwise this form ofmy device is the same as that disclosed in the remaining figures.

Having now described my invention, I will proceed to explain theoperation thereof. When it is desired to secure the reins in the holderthe two straps or n are placed close together, and inserted by the handbetween the outer extremity of the prong and the widened edges of thesurfaces at, d which surfaces, on account of their width are engaged bythe straps and guide the same downwardly until the forward strap comesin contact with the prong f which latter presses the straps into therecess and draws the same tightly over the surfaces d, d, the sharpbounding edges of which pressing into the forward strap prevents anymovement of the reins across the surfaces d, d, and thus secures themfrom displacement from the holder. Further, the

prong f is so arranged relative to the surfaces (1, d that any pullingon the straps will tend to straighten the same thus causing them to drawagainst the prong which latter taken together with the'binding tendencyof the bounding edges of the surfaces (1, (1 will securely fasten thereins in the holder. The reins may be quickly removed by simply drawingthe same outwardly from the shelf since the prong and the engaged edgesafford no resistancei toitheirgremoval inian outward direction.

My device maybe made out of any suitable material and is of such aconstructionthat, with the exception of the prong f, it may be readilycast and machined. AlthoughI have illustrated and described the same asbeing secured to the dashboard by screws and clamps, yet itiis obviousthat itimay be attachedltoi'any other{'suitable part of a vehicle and inany other wellknown manner.

Throughoutgthe specifications I have used various terms for the sake ofillustration, suchia'asibodygi portion, shelf, prong, clamps, etc., yetI do not wish to limit myself to the exact construction of these partsas allustrated and described herein, but reserve the right to utilizeany of the equivalents thereof, provided the same are within the scopeof my invention as pointed out in the appended claims.

Having now described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect byLetters Patent is:

1. A reinholder comprising a substantially rectangular body portionhaving a longitudinal recess and front face thereof bounded byrelatively sharp longitudinally extending edges, a shelf closing theinner end of said recess, and projecting forwardly beyond said edges anda rigid prong rigidly mounted on said shelf in front of and between saidedges and means for securing said holder to a vehicle.

2. A reinholder comprising a body portion made substantially rectangularin transverse section to present a flat engaging rear surface and havingits front face recessed to form a narrow surface on each side thereof,the said recess being closed at its inner end by a shelf projectingforwardly beyond said front surfaces and a straight rigid prong rigidlymounted on said shelf in front of and between said surfaces, each ofsaid surfaces being widened at its outer extremity and the said widenedportions being sloped upwardly and rearwardly opposite the free end ofsaid prong.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name to thisspecification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES S. CI-IAFFEE. WVitnesses:

FREDERICK W. HOLDEN, ADA M. GEsNER.

